No mystery about 'fresh violence' in Middle East

USA TODAY's editorial "The Mideast tightrope" notes that "Palestinians elected Hamas, a terrorist organization, in recent elections." It goes on to say, however, that "there's no mystery about what could fan fresh violence: targeted Israeli killings of elected Hamas leaders and Israel continuing to withhold Palestinian (tax) money" (Monday).

Hours after the editorial appeared, Palestinian terrorists fired at least three rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel; two Israelis were killed. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah, another terrorist group, announced it was extending the range of its rockets to be able to hit the Israeli cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod. And Hamas claimed it was ready for contacts with the diplomatic "quartet" — the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia — but would not meet the quartet's requirements to recognize Israel, halt terrorism and abide by negotiated Palestinian-Israeli agreements.

So it seems there is no mystery about "fresh violence" — Palestinian terrorism against Israel continues and Hamas organizers, terrorists who now are the Palestinian Authority's elected leaders, camouflage it as "resistance." They also declare that they will not honor the Palestinian Authority's obligation to stop the attacks.

What is mysterious is USA TODAY's caution that Israel not target Hamas leaders committing or collaborating in terrorism but instead should improve their cash flow.